Health and Physical Education

*The following courses are available to students in grades 10-12.

First Aid and C.P.R.

• Course Number for Fall Session: 08010280
• Course Number for Spring Session: 08010380

Course Description: This course is open to any student who is interested in a complete first aid course, which includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation. American Red Cross certification is granted to those who complete the course successfully. A nominal fee may be collected from each student to offset the cost of materials.

Yoga/Pilates

• Course Number for Fall Session: 08010260
• Course Number for Spring Session: 08010360

Course Description: Designed to introduce students to the basic postures, breathing techniques, and relaxation methods of yoga and Pilates. Students begin to practice and experience the benefits of stretching, movement, and breath in an effort to practice these skills and learn to relax, relieve stress and improve their personal fitness.

Racquet Sports

• Course Number for Fall Session: 08010270
• Course Number for Spring Session: 08010370

Course Description: Designed for students to learn and participate in skills and activities used for paddle and racquet games. Students begin by learning the basic skills needed to strike an object using paddles and racquets. As the students become more skilled, they begin incorporating the skills and strategies into team play to accomplish goals set by themselves and the teacher at the beginning of the course. The skills learned in this course are skills that can be incorporated in activities throughout their lifetime. Games such as tennis, racquetball, badminton, pickleball, and table tennis are all games that require the skills and strategies that are taught throughout this course.

Self Defense

• Course Number for Fall Session: 08010230
• Course Number for Spring Session: 08010330

Course Description: You may only take this course one time during your four years. Designed to make you more aware, prepared, and ready for any situation that you may need to protect yourself. Students learn self-protection, evading and escaping techniques. This course is designed to teach empowerment, so each of the students has the confidence to protect and to defend him/herself. The nature of self-defense should be calming and reassuring.

Strength Training

• Course Number for Fall Session: 08010240
• Course Number for Spring Session: 08010340

Course Description: Weight training or resistance training is an exercise that utilizes progressive resistance movements, typically with free weights or weight machines, to build strength or muscle endurance. Body weight, resistance band, kettlebell exercises are also taught throughout the semester. Students assess their individual fitness level and use the results to develop a goal-oriented fitness program to follow throughout the semester.

Team Sports

• Course Number for Fall Session: 08010250
• Course Number for Spring Session: 08010350

Course Description: Designed for students who wish to participate in an advanced physical education experience that will focus specifically on team games and sports. Students receive instruction in advanced skills and strategies to participate in invasion games, such as flag-football, basketball, tchoukball, ultimate frisbee, and floor hockey, and striking games, such as whiffle ball, and soccer. In addition, this course will focus on teaching personal and social responsibility by emphasizing sportsmanship, leadership and teamwork.

• Fall Semester – Football, Basketball, and Tchoukball.
• Spring Semester – Ultimate Frisbee, Soccer, Floor Hockey, Wiffleball/Harriton Ball and 4-way.

Partners in Adaptive Physical Education

• Length/credit: 2 semesters per year - 0.167 credit per semester
• Grade(s): 10, 11, 12
• Course Numbers: 08090500, 08090600, 08090700, 08090510, 08090610, 08090710

Course Description: The purpose of this course is to allow students the opportunity to serve as peer trainers, peer coaches, peer leaders, and most importantly "peer partners" to our special needs' population. As classmates and teammates, students without disabilities can take a leadership role and support students who need assistance with skills as mentors, but in a non-hierarchical environment of equality where they know that they can learn from those students as well. Students have the opportunity to adapt physical education activities/skills and develop excellent interpersonal communication skills, while working closely with a Physical Education Teacher. If you enjoy the Best Buddies program, you will love this class. Expect to learn patience, develop friendships, and care for others.

Swimming Instruction (Aquatics) - offered at Lower Merion High School only

• Length/credit: 1 semester - 0.125 credit
• Grade(s): 10, 11, 12
• Course Number: 08070110

Course Description: This course is open to all students. The course offers the opportunity to engage in a wide range of aquatic experiences. Students can learn to swim or improve their present swimming ability. Students may work on fitness swimming, creating individualized workouts. Kayaking skills are taught to those interested. Students can learn basic diving skills and apply those the skills to the one-meter springboard. There are opportunities to work on your own teaching skills. Many students use the course to prepare for Lifeguard Training. Students can learn water polo skills and other aquatic games.

Lifeguard Training - offered at Lower Merion High School only

• Length/credit: 1 semester - 0.125 credit
• Grade(s): 10, 11, 12
• Course Number: 08080110

Course Description: The primary purpose of the course is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills needed to: (1) prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies (2) provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and illnesses until more advanced care takes over. Students should be competent swimmers. Pursuing certification is limited to those who meet the minimum age requirement (15 by the end of the course) and have successfully completed the prerequisite swimming skills evaluation.